Applied Research最新文献

Silver(I) selenide, Ag₂Se was very simply and conveniently prepared from Ag and Se powders in a stoichiometric ratio by one-step mechanochemical synthesis after 10 min of milling in a planetary ball mill. The kinetics of this synthesis and the structural, morphological, optical, and thermoelectric properties of the product were studied. The crystal structure, physical properties, and morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), specific surface area measurements, particle size distribution analysis, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. XRD confirmed the orthorhombic crystal structure of naumannite, Ag₂Se. The electron microscopy revealed that the nanostructured product consisted of isolated rod-shaped particles and agglomerated nanoparticles of irregular shape which formed clusters with a size >30 μm. Crystallinity was inspected by selected area diffraction. The optical properties were studied using ultraviolet-visible and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The determined band gap energy of 1.15 eV was blue-shifted relative to the bulk Ag₂Se. For the densification of mechanochemically synthesized powdered Ag₂Se, the spark plasma sintering method was applied to prepare a suitable sample for thermoelectric characterization. High-temperature thermoelectric properties were evaluated in terms of the potential application of mechanochemically synthesized Ag₂Se in energy conversion.

Myco degradation is an effective technique for breaking down waste plant substances made of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, which are collectively known as lignocellulose. This abundant organic material is found throughout the world. Due to its recalcitrant nature, lignocellulose poses a challenge for efficient conversion into biofuels, biochemicals, and other valuable products. Myco degradation, which involves the use of fungi to degrade lignocellulosic materials, offers a sustainable and cost-efficient resolution to this challenge. This review provides an overview of the mechanisms and applications of myco degradation for lignocellulosic biomass degradation. The review discusses the various types of fungi involved in lignocellulose degradation, their enzymatic systems, and the factors that influences their performance. Furthermore, the potential applications of myco degradation products, such as biofuels, enzymes, and bioplastics, are reviewed. It also highlights the implications of myco degradation for waste management and sustainable development. Overall, myco degradation represents a promising technology for the efficient deprivation of lignocellulosic waste biomass, and further research in this field holds great potential for the sustainable creation of bio-based products.

Measurements of Young's modulus and residual stresses of screen-printed ink layers using a bulge test on coated polyimide-based membranes are proposed in this work. The applied bulge test monitors the deflection of membranes under pressure with interferometry. The obtained Young's modulus ranges from 6 to 8 GPa for a carbon blend-based ink and is around 12 GPa for a silver nanoparticle ink. These values are compared with standard nanoindentation and show good agreement. Besides, the residual stresses range from −4 to 8 MPa for the carbon blend-based ink, while the silver ink is measured around −10 MPa. The use of the membrane-based method underlines the influence of exact deposition and curing conditions on the ink film material properties. The impact of the substrate on the ink layer properties, such as the thickness and its uniformity, is discussed, especially with regard to the heat treatment of the membrane.

Desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) pose a significant threat to food security. However, they also serve as a nutrient-rich delicacy in many African and Arabic communities where they are traditionally harvested for food and feed. Traditional harvesting methods are inefficient, laborious, and time-consuming; hence, there is a need to explore more convenient and efficient techniques. This study assessed preferential selection and feeding behavior of desert locusts to identify trap plants that could attract and aggregate them for easy harvesting. Four trap plants (cowpea, finger millet, sorghum, and amaranth) and four repellent plants (neem, pencil cactus, garlic, and cayenne red pepper) were evaluated through multiple-choice experiments. A randomized complete block design involving mature adult, immature adult, and hopper stages of desert locusts was used. Analysis of variance was used to determine the effects of repellent and trap plants on feeding preferences of desert locusts. Mean differences between treatments at p < 0.05 were separated using post hoc Tukey's honestly significant difference. Cowpea as the most preferred trap plant attracted 62.7%, 70.7%, and 76.9% of mature adult, immature adult, and hopper locust stages, respectively. Neem exhibited the most potent repellent effect and attracted no desert locusts for feeding. Neem repelled locusts, thereby reducing infestation and damage of cowpea as a pull plant when both plants were grown in the same pot in a “push–pull” system. The push–pull attracted 3.7%, 24.3%, and 7.8% of mature adult, immature adult, and hopper locust stages, respectively. However, cowpea attracted large numbers of locusts (96.3% mature adults, 75.7% immature adults, and 92.2% hoppers) when grown separately from neem. These findings provide valuable insights on the potential of exploiting traps and repellents to enhance aggregation and harvesting of desert locusts as food and feed.

The photo-response threshold of the Ag-NP/TiO₂ composite thin films was enhanced and shifted into the visible and near-infrared when the chlorophyll dye extracted from mopane (Colophospermum mopane) leaves was adsorbed onto them. This allows the fabrication of a new generation of photocathodic p-DSSCs with previously unheard of unprecedentedly high concentrations of Ag (up to 80 mol%) evenly scattered in a TiO₂ matrix, and this efficacy is the highest ever reported for a p-type working Ag/TiO₂/chlorophyll/iodine electrode. This may enable the use of this electrode as a component of photo-sensitizer tandem devices. Read the article here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/appl.202300044.

The present study focuses on the archaeometric investigation of 10 brown tesserae belonging to Early Christian/Byzantine wall mosaics of three monuments of Thessaloniki, inscribed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO: Rotunda, St. Sophia, and St. Demetrios. The tesserae were analyzed via optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-Vis reflectance spectroscopy to define their composition and technological characteristics. Nine of the tesserae are made of silica glass while one tessera is made of a siliceous rock. The majority of the glass tesserae, despite the chronological distance of the monuments they were collected from, present similar technological features, base glass composition, colorants, and opacifiers. Metallic copper is the main element responsible for the brown color in relation to iron which serves as a reducing agent. Opacification is attributed to tin compounds.

The pressure response of crystalline trans-cinnamic acid is studied by means of Raman spectroscopy up to 6 GPa. Pressure application causes the reversible shift of all the observed Raman peaks to higher frequencies and changes in their relative intensities, with the intermolecular vibrational modes being by far more sensitive to pressurization compared to the intramolecular ones. The present high-pressure Raman data indicate the structural stability of the trans-cinnamic acid crystal and molecular conformation up to the highest pressure attained in the experiments, the importance of the hydrogen bonding, as well as the considerable strengthening of the intermolecular interactions at elevated pressures.

A rapid headspace gas chromatography method has been developed for the determination of residual organic solvents in photoinitiators. Using water-glyceryl triacetate as the solvent, the method was used to determine the residual levels of 11 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), namely, benzene, toluene, xylene, methanol, ethanol, acetonitrile, acetone, n-hexane, dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, and ethyl acetate, in photoinitiators. Under the selected instrument operating conditions, all the residual solvents were completely separated. A detailed analysis was conducted on these 11 organic solvents. The mass concentrations of these solvents were linearly correlated with the chromatographic peak area, with a linear R² is called determination coefficient R² ≥ 0.99, and the relative standard deviation (n = 5) was less than 5.8%. The recovery rates of n-hexane and toluene were 90.3% and 102.9%, respectively. The method exhibits good precision and accuracy, making it suitable for the rapid detection and inspection of 11 residual VOC components in photoinitiators. The practical applicability of the method was evaluated by blue applicability grade index and the score was 75.0 demonstrating its good practicality and applicability.

Selective laser melting (SLM) is a contemporary manufacturing method that offers numerous advantages for producing various components. This research focuses on the examination of a dental implant sample fabricated using the SLM method. The investigation encompasses multiple aspects, including hardness, dimensional accuracy, strength, and surface properties. The results demonstrate that the hardness of the SLM sample is comparable to that of machined samples, establishing it as a viable alternative to traditional production methods. Dimensional tests reveal that the SLM sample adheres to the required acceptance limits for critical dimensions. The strength of the sample, with a value of 700 MPa, proves to be acceptable for medical applications. The presence of surface porosity and holes in the SLM sample highlights its potential for enhanced bone ossification. However, challenges associated with thread construction in the SLM process require further attention. Overall, this research showcases the promising aspects of the SLM method for dental implant production, while also identifying areas for future investigation and improvement.

Effective manipulation and control of fluids in microfluidic channels requires robust bonding between the different components. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is widely employed in microchannel fabrication due to its affordability, biocompatibility, and straightforward fabrication process. However, PDMS's low surface energy poses challenges in bonding with many organic and inorganic substrates, hindering the development of hybrid microfluidic devices. In this study, a simple and versatile three step process is presented for bonding PDMS microchannels with organic (cyclic olefin copolymer (COC)) and inorganic substrates (lithium niobate (LiNbO₃)) using plasma activation and a silane coupling agent. Initially, the PDMS surface undergoes oxygen/argon plasma activation, followed by functionalization with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES). Subsequently, the COC or LiNbO₃ is plasma activated and brought into contact with PDMS under a load at a specific temperature. Characterization by Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and contact angle measurements confirmed the successful treatment of the substrates. In addition, bonding strength of the fabricated hybrid devices was assessed through leakage and tensile tests. Under optimized conditions (100°C and 4% v/v APTES), PDMS-COC hybrid microchannels achieved a flow rate of 600 mL/h without leakage and a tensile strength of 562 kPa. Conversely, the PDMS- LiNbO₃ assembly demonstrated a flow rate of 216 mL/h before leakage, with a tensile strength of 334 kPa. This bonding method exhibits significant potential and versatility for various materials in microfluidic applications, ranging from biomedical research to enhanced oil recovery.